Barrow Vs Crewe Alexandra

Matchday 65 took us back up to Cumbria, this time a long journey to visit Barrow.

Liam was feeling a lot better today, which was positive news given the seven-hour round trip that was needed to tick Barrow off. Due to the journey, it was agreed that the driving would be shared between myself and Grandad Steve, with me in the hot seat first.

We set out nice and early, planning a pitstop in Lancaster to enable a stretch of legs, a toilet break, and a fuel refill following our trip to Chesterfield the night before. This was also the point where Grandad Steve swapped seats and drove us for the final leg, allowing me to catch up with writing my blog from yesterday while enjoying some beautiful scenery.

The journey started off pretty well, but we did experience a number of traffic issues, mainly due to the volume of roadworks where speed was reduced from 70 mph to either 50 mph or even 40 mph at times. We allowed plenty of time, so we were never worried, and in fact, we arrived about two hours before kick-off. We decided to head to a nearby Wetherspoon’s to tick off another one, this time “The Furness Railway.” We drove around a little bit nearby, and despite a lot of parking being permit-only, we did manage to find an area outside a church that was in a perfect location, halfway between the Wetherspoon’s and Barrow’s ground.

A short 10-minute walk past a large presence of police and navigating past two bouncers, we were able to find a vacant table. After a quick clear of the empty glasses and a kind waiter cleaning our table, we were good to go. A couple of pints of IPA for us, while Liam had pizza and orange juice. Time soon flew, giving us an hour before kick-off, and we still had a 20-minute walk.

Walking to the stadium was pleasant in the beaming sunshine. As we approached the ground, it wasn’t clear where the club shop was, but guidance from a steward directed us to the main reception where the club shop was located in the back. We purchased our matchday scarf and a program before heading back outside to locate our turnstiles. Unfortunately, the poor information on the ticket meant it wasn’t clear where to go, so again we had to seek advice for further clarification.

Once inside the correct turnstiles, we headed to our seats. The seats had a slightly restricted view, but it wasn’t too much of an issue. The stadium was very unique in the fact that every stand looked so different. It was great to see so many local fans supporting the club and also incredible that over 500 Crewe fans made the journey.

The atmosphere was really good and certainly helped the teams provide us with an entertaining match. Despite Crewe having the most possession, it was Barrow that scored the only goal in the first half, helping them to win the first game of the season.

On exiting the area, we were initially prevented from heading down the road just past the stadium due to a row of police officers. Having politely spoken to a male officer and explaining we were Crewe fans, he didn’t quite believe us, but eventually, another officer allowed all fans to walk through. It was a very bizarre experience.

The journey home ended with me swapping seats with Steve, as tiredness had finally caught up with me. We encountered no major traffic issues other than a couple of areas with roadworks, and the journey took 3.5 hours back.

Next match sees us visiting the mighty Anfield for their home pre-season fixture against Sevilla tomorrow.

5 Facts About Barrow AFC:

1. Historic Roots: Barrow AFC was founded in 1901, making it one of the oldest football clubs in England. The team initially played in the Lancashire Combination before joining the Football League in 1921.
2. Holker Street: The club’s home ground, Holker Street, has been their base since 1909. It’s a traditional English stadium with a capacity of around 5,000, known for its unique and intimate atmosphere.
3. Non-League to League: Barrow spent nearly 50 years in the non-league wilderness after being voted out of the Football League in 1972. However, in 2020, the club made a triumphant return to the Football League after winning the National League title.
4. Nickname: Barrow AFC is known as “The Bluebirds,” a nickname that reflects the club’s blue and white colours. The moniker is widely recognized and cherished by the fans.
5. Geographic Challenge: Barrow is one of the most geographically isolated clubs in the English Football League, located in the northwestern corner of England. The club’s location makes it a challenging away trip for many teams and fans alike.